Pumpkin Pudding Monster Cookies

Unless you count throwing some pumpkin pudding mix and a bunch of candy into a cookie, then it’s all monster, all the time, baby.

Sometimes, as a food blogger, I feel the need to come up with creative food names for my treats. I have it in my head that the more complicated the name, somehow, the better the treat sounds.

I also have a similar problem shopping: the more expensive an item is, the better it must be, right? (Here’s looking at you, Betsey Johnson. Your stuff is drool-worthy but also a tearjerker for my wallet).

But ohmahgravy, when it comes to food names, I like ‘em crazy and embellished. Like my outfits.

Hence the name ‘monster’ cookies. So they aren’t traditional monster cookies. Sue me. But they’re chocolate-y, pumpkin-y, peanut butter-y, chewy, crunchy, and totally perfect-y. So whether or not you’re a true monster cookie snot, you should probably make them.

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line two muffin tins with silicone liners or spray lightly with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the butter + sugars until creamy. Add in the pudding mix (just the powdered mix), eggs, and vanilla until incorporated. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt + pumpkin pie spice; gradually add this mixture to the wet mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir the candies in by hand.
3. Drop by rounded Tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2″ apart. Bake for approx. 10-12 minutes, rotating pans halfway through bake time, until lightly golden and centers are just about set.
4. Cool about 5-10 minutes on the pans before carefully transferring to racks to cool completely. Store airtight, at room temperature, for a couple days.

If you’ve never tried pudding cookies, you absolutely must. The pudding mix adds another layer of flavor as well as makes these cookies super moist and chewy–ideal for these densely-candy-stuffed, pumpkin-y concoctions. This would be a great recipe to bookmark for after-Halloween so you can use up some extra candy since I’m sure it’d work equally well with chopped candy bars (Twix, anyone??)

this is like the mother recipe of all cookie recipes. i use maria’s recipe for like everything now because i’m obsessed with pudding in cookies. they make it so moist and amazing! loveeee these monsters!

I don’t care what you call them–these look awesome! I love pudding cookies and I LOVE this pudding mix. i still have a couple of boxes stashed away…so i just might be making these with leftover Halloween candy in the next few weeks!